FY 2010

Nor is excess spending the real nub of our budgetary troubles. "The fundamental cause of the state's fiscal problems is the collapse of tax revenues,'' notes Michael Widmer, the foundation's president.

But no matter how widely the pain is spread, its impact would be deep, said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a business-funded watchdog group.

Michael Widmer, executive director of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, hit the nail on the head when he called the unexpected bonus payments "illogical." If the state's fiscal crisis were over, it might make sense to give a year-end reward in recognition of financial sacrifices made, but Massachusetts' monetary woes are far from resolved, Widmer argued. We wholeheartedly agree.